2027 First Team East All-American Favorites

Every year, the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) selects its All-Americans, split up into West and East Teams. Here are the front runners to be chosen in 2027. All players are listed alphabetically within their position.

Yegorov thinks the game at an exceptional level and it shows in his performances between the pipes. New Jersey's heir apparent to Martin Brodeur (2024 2nd, 49th Overall) played his first full college hockey season 2025-26, suiting up in all but one game at Boston University. The St. Petersburg, Russia, native posted a .904 save percentage, 2.73 goals allowed average and 2 shutouts through 35 outings.

These numbers resulted in the Terriers stealing wins via Yegorov's incredible athleticism and intangible power to both observe and react as the game unfolds around him. This is something I witnessed firsthand during Yegorov's junior days with the Omaha Lancers. It also doesn't hurt that "Big Mike," as he's known, comes in at 6 foot 5 and almost 200 pounds. Yegorov's physical gifts and technical abilities project him as a favorite for both an All-American nod and the Mike Richter Award for College Hockey's Best Goaltender.

After transferring from Colorado College, Dunbar took off on Union's blue line. He led all ECAC defensemen in scoring with 33 points (12 goals + 21 assists) and a team first +17 rating. This is compared just two points in his 2024-25 sophomore season for the Tigers.

Union's defense first approach led by Head Coach Josh Hauge fits Dunbar to a tee AHCA named Dunbar to their Second-Team All-American East team in 2026, and it isn't a stretch to say he's a favorite to jump up a level.

I just touched on Groenewold as a favorite for the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award earlier this week. However, the performances previously referenced also put him squarely in the All-American Conversation. Quinnipiac Head Coach Rand Pecknold was blunt about Groenewold's future saying, "He is going to play in the NHL one day. I don't know when, but he will.''

Groenewold set the NCAA pace earning a +39 rating in 40 games, and was Quinnipiac's highest scoring defenseman with 20 points (6 goals + 17 assists). Three of those six markers were ultimately game winners. If he rounds out some of his overthinking, the 2026 Howie's Best Defensive Defenseman will find himself gaining more national attention.

Chicago has something special in their prospect pool with Nestrasil. The young Czech accomplished the impressive feat of increasing his points per game from junior hockey to the NCAA. Nestrasil went from .61 points per game in Muskegon to .92 as a freshman. During that first year of college hockey, he accrued 31 points (13 goals + 18 assists) amidst 34 outings. This marked Nestrasil second on the Minutemen in both points and assists.

The secret blend for Nestrasil's success is the marriage of tenacity and versatility to play a productive 200 foot game wherever he gets slotted in a lineup. Fans and scouts saw this almost immediately as Nestrasil recorded a hat trick in just his third collegiate game. Expect Nestrasil continue contributing throughout his second collegiate campaign and be heavily in the mix for an All-American selection.

Seeing Nestrasil's evolution from juniors in the broadcast booth to the player he is today, Blackhawk fans should be salivating for him to take the ice at the United Center.

If I told you a year ago that the nation’s top goal scorer would be neither drafted nor a Hobey Baker Hat Trick Finalist, you probably would've laughed in my face. However, that is exactly what Hayden Stavroff did representing the Big Green.

Stavroff had a sensational sophomore season at Dartmouth. He led the NCAA with 29 goals across 35 games. His 35 points were most among all undrafted college players. While the Hobey Baker committee did not advance Stavroff to their top three, the AHCA rightfully named him to their 2026 First Team East. If Stavroff stays on his current collegiate course, he could become as coveted a free agent as T.J. Hughes was at Michigan. Time will tell.

After getting snubbed for the 2026 Hobey Baker Award, Ethan Wyttenbach is back for his sophomore season with the Bobcats. Calgary's 2024 fifth round steal set the offensive pace last year. Wyttenbach's 59 points (25 goals + 34 assists and 1.49 points per game led the nation while he finished tied for second in tallies. 

The Roslyn, NY, native can and likely will make an immediate impact upon donning the "Flaming C." However long Wyttenbach remains at Quinnipiac puts the Bobcats that much closer to another title and him further up my favorites list for both All-American and Hobey Baker Honors.